Pacific Kenichi restaurant in Kona suspended due to health codes infractions
The Kenichi Pacific restaurant on Ali'i Drive in Kailua-Kona was closed by the state Department of Health (DOH) on Wednesday due to multiple critical food safety violations. The closure is a result of a routine inspection that revealed numerous live and dead cockroaches within the kitchen and food storage areas, as well as other hygiene and maintenance issues.
The restaurant, operated by Dragonfly Hospitality Group, is now required to take immediate action to address these concerns. This includes hiring a professional pest control operator, discarding all contaminated food products, and thoroughly cleaning and disinfecting all food- and non-food contact surfaces.
According to the Hawaii Administrative Rules (HAR) Chapter 11-50, enforced by the DOH Food Safety Branch, food establishments statewide must adhere to regulations covering pest control, facility sanitation, food storage, cross-contamination prevention, proper temperature controls, date marking, and more.
Common violations identified in recent inspections, especially focusing on pest control and facility maintenance, include the presence of live cockroaches and other live insects on food-contact surfaces, the discovery of deceased pests in kitchen and storage areas, and occupying establishments failing to discard contaminated food or hire professional pest control services following pest infestations.
In addition to pest control issues, the Kenichi Pacific restaurant was found to have food stored directly on the floor of walk-in coolers, kitchen floors, walls, and equipment visibly soiled, a lack of sanitizer in dishwashing sinks, poor condition of ice buckets stored on floors, liquor room floors with debris and gunk accumulation, and failure to date-mark foods to ensure freshness and prevent spoilage.
The restaurant is also required to conduct maintenance and repair of the mechanical dishwasher and refrigerators, remove unnecessary equipment and supplies to prevent harborage sites, and ensure proper temperature controls during food preparation and storage.
Kenichi Pacific must not reopen for business until all violations have been corrected. Upon completion of the necessary corrections, the restaurant will contact the DOH for a follow-up inspection. Compliance with HAR Chapter 11-50 and prompt corrective actions are essential for restaurants to operate safely in Hawaii.
- Despite the closure due to critical food safety violations, Kenichi Pacific, a restaurant under Dragonfly Hospitality Group, must address the issues, such as hiring a professional pest control operator, discarding contaminated food, and thoroughly cleaning all surfaces.
- The Hawaii Administrative Rules (HAR) Chapter 11-50 enforced by the DOH Food Safety Branch sets regulations on food establishment practices, including pest control, facility sanitation, food storage, and more.
- Compelling issues in the Kenichi Pacific restaurant included live and dead cockroaches, food stored directly on the floor, unsanitized dishwashing sinks, and poor maintenance of mechanical equipment, all of which are common violations identified in recent inspections.
- In the realm of health-and-wellness, general-news, and crime-and-justice, this incident underscores the importance of maintaining strict adherence to food safety guidelines and follow-up inspections to ensure businesses catering to food-and-drink and lifestyles comply with regulations.
